What should be Translated?

[Jessie423 0]

I am an American, and my fiancé is Senegalese. There's all of these official documents that he has in French - I"m assuming I don't have to translate his passport info or that kind of stuff - but what about all of our conversations in French on messenger? I was going to print some screenshots of our messaging and a letter that I wrote him, but do we have to translate all of that? How do I make it an "official" translation? Can I translate it myself? 

 

Also, for the declaration of how we met as well as the letter for intent to marry, can I just write the intent to marry in English and then have him tell me what to write for the declaration of how he met me, and he can sign it? Or will they realize at his interview that his English isn't that great and that he probably wasn't the one who did they typing?

 

 

Thanks!!!

[payxibka 10,045]

Why are you sending chats?

 

Any evidence submitted to the uscis not in English needs a translation or it will never be considered.   Chats are not a consideration at the petition stage.

 

No such thing as a declaration of how you met letter.   All you need provide are statements of intent to marry from each

[VISBIS 18]

You don’t really need text conversations at the petitioning stage. Specially if they need to be translated. You could send pictures, boarding passes and passport stamps to show proof of relationship and that you have met within the last two years. And any translation done, needs to be done by a certified translator. 
 

We did add a statement of meeting, and I know a lot of people tell that it’s not necessary, but it doesn’t hurt. Just briefly describe your relationship. You both need to submit letters of intent to marry. It’s just a couple of sentences stating that you both are legally free and willing to marry each other within 90 days of being admitted to the States. 
 

Also you’re the one who’s petitioning. So all documents they assume are coming from you, so it doesn’t really matter, how proficient he is in English. 
 

Passport does not need to be translated, but any other document that you’re submitting, that’s not in English need to be translated. 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

27 minutes ago, VISBIS said:

And any translation done, needs to be done by a certified translator. 

Just a note: the translation is the one that has to be certified, not the translator. 

That means the document includes a paragraph from whoever did the translation, stating that it is accurate to the best of his/her ability and that he/she is competent to translate; it also includes his/her signature, name, address and date.

Basically, anyone who is sufficiently fluent can translate the documents.

Edited June 17, 2020 by Allaboutwaiting

[payxibka 10,045]

33 minutes ago, VISBIS said:

 And any translation done, needs to be done by a certified translator. 

Source?

 

USCIS translations need to be accompanied by an attestation that the translator is fluent in both languages.   This is quite different than certified 

[Crazy Cat 41,857]

58 minutes ago, VISBIS said:

And any translation done, needs to be done by a certified translator. 

Not true.  Anyone who is fluent in both languages can translate and certify the translation.  Just attach the required statement to the document.

[VISBIS 18]

1 hour ago, VISBIS said:

And any translation done, needs to be done by a certified translator. 

I apologize on this regards, and others were right. You could translate as long as you’re fluent in French and certify it. This gives a better understanding onto translation basics.

https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/translating-immigration-documents-english/

And from what I read, the Senegal embassy don't have any restrictions as well in translations. 

 

 

[VISBIS 18]

Actually at the interview stages, you might not even need to translate, since it looks like they only require translations for any documents NOT in English or French. 
 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/DKR-Dakar.html

[Sparkle Sparkle 914]

At the K1 petition stage... You the petitioner fills the form and submits document... If you have any evidence of trips you took together in his passport you will need to submit that... If it's French you can make a small translation yourself if you fluent in French and English. 

 

I don't know how fluent his English is but I can imagine he is able to write a few lines to show his intent to marry within 90days

At the embassy stage... Documents needed will be ok in both English and French... Any document not in either languages you will need to translate. 

 

[Jessie423 0]

Thank you all for the info! So it sounds like I don't need to enclose any documentation of us keeping in touch long distance during the initial application phase? Would those chats be just something he would bring to the embassy in Dakar for evidence? And in that case, does anything brought to the embassy in his country have to be translated to English too?

 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

4 hours ago, Jessie423 said:

• I don't need to enclose any documentation of us keeping in touch long distance during the initial application phase? No, you don't need to.
• Would those chats be just something he would bring to the embassy in Dakar for evidence? Yes, he can bring those to the embassy as proof of ongoing relatipnship (they can review them or not).
• Does anything brought to the embassy in his country have to be translated to English too? No, embassies receive documents in English AND the country's official language(s). 

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

11.3 Foreign Language Documents and Translations.

 

(a) Document Translations.

 

All documents submitted in support of an application or petition must include complete translation into English. In addition, there must be a certification from the translator indicating that the translation is complete and accurate and attesting to his or her competence as a translator. See 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) .

 

From <https://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/AFM/HTML/AFM/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-2061/0-0-0-2253.html>

 

 

Just put this statement on it and sign:

 

CERTIFICATE OF TRANSLATION I, ___________________________, am competent to translate from ________________ into English, and certify that the translation of __________________________________ is true and accurate to the best of my abilities. ______________________________ Signature of Translator

Name of Translator _____________________________ Address of Translator ____________________________ Telephone Number of Translator ____________________________.

 

From <https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/713197-k-1-chart-log-tickets-translation/

 

 

Certificate of Translation

Translating a document for the USCIS: What you need to know  (Transcribing)

https://www.fileright.com/blog/translating-a-document-what-you-need-to-know/